Abstract: A forging head for additive manufacturing, comprising a base portion and a forging portion. The forging portion extends from the base portion for forging a cladding layer during formation of the cladding layer by additive manufacturing. The forging head further comprising a through hole which is formed through the base portion and the forging portion, for at least one of an energy bean and an additive material to pass through during formation of the cladding layer.

Abstract: A method for executing operation requests includes formatting one or more storage devices and selecting one or more labeled replicas and one or more distinguished replicas, receiving an operation request with respect to a set of data blocks, identifying a preferred replica corresponding to the received operation request, determining whether the replication-pending bits for the preferred replica are set, and executing the received operation request with respect to the corresponding distinguished replica. A method for executing a write operation request additionally includes setting replication-pending bits with respect to the labeled replica, wherein the replication-pending bits indicate an incomplete write request, writing data to both a labeled replica and a distinguished replica, and clearing the replication-pending bits with respect to the labeled replica to indicate the completion of the write operation.

Abstract: A method and a computer system for asymmetric replication of data are provided. Storage of a set of data is organized as a first copy and as a second copy in non-volatile storage. The second copy is reliable and stored so as to be readable at a speed slower than for the first copy. A read instruction regarding the set of data is received and performed preferentially via the first copy such that the asymmetric replication achieves enhanced performance speed. A request to execute a write operation is received. The write operation is executed to the first copy and to the second copy. In response to determining that the write operation to the first copy was unsuccessful, a label for the first copy is set as stale.

Abstract: A method and a computer system for asymmetric replication of data are provided. Storage of a set of data is organized as a first copy and as a second copy in non-volatile storage. The second copy is reliable and stored so as to be readable at a speed slower than for the first copy. A read instruction regarding the set of data is received and performed preferentially via the first copy such that the asymmetric replication achieves enhanced performance speed. A request to execute a write operation is received. The write operation is executed to the first copy and to the second copy. In response to determining that the write operation to the first copy was unsuccessful, a label for the first copy is set as stale.

Abstract: A method and system for in operando, in situ, and real-time monitoring the state of an electrochemical device, e.g. battery, is provided, which is by means of an optical fiber probe inside the electrochemical device. The method includes: shedding an input light into the optical fiber probe and detecting an output light transmitted therefrom; and determining state of health of the electrochemical device based on the output light. The determination step can be based on a change of the refractive index or of the cladding mode or the surface plasmon resonance, all derived from the output light, in the instant state compared to a prior state. The method can simultaneously detect other parameters including state of charge, temperature, pressure, strain, displacement, vibration, or gas release inside the electrochemical device. With a core mode for correction, the determination of these parameters can also realize a high accuracy.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprises initializing a plurality of segment lists. Each segment list of the plurality of segment lists corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of disk drives. Each segment list divides storage space of the respective disk drive into a plurality of segments. The method further comprises, for each of the plurality of disk drives, identifying one or more candidate segments from the plurality of segments; calculating a respective segment distance variance for one or more combinations of identified candidate segments. Each combination of identified candidate segments includes one candidate segment for each of the plurality of disk drives. The method further comprises selecting a combination of the one or more combinations of identified candidate segments having the smallest respective segment distance variance; and storing data on the plurality of disk drives according to the selected combination of identified candidate segments.

Abstract: A method for executing operation requests includes formatting one or more storage devices and selecting one or more labeled replicas and one or more distinguished replicas, receiving an operation request with respect to a set of data blocks, identifying a preferred replica corresponding to the received operation request, determining whether the replication-pending bits for the preferred replica are set, and executing the received operation request with respect to the corresponding distinguished replica. A method for executing a write operation request additionally includes setting replication-pending bits with respect to the labeled replica, wherein the replication-pending bits indicate an incomplete write request, writing data to both a labeled replica and a distinguished replica, and clearing the replication-pending bits with respect to the labeled replica to indicate the completion of the write operation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprises initializing a plurality of segment lists. Each segment list of the plurality of segment lists corresponds to a respective one of a plurality of disk drives. Each segment list divides storage space of the respective disk drive into a plurality of segments. The method further comprises, for each of the plurality of disk drives, identifying one or more candidate segments from the plurality of segments; calculating a respective segment distance variance for one or more combinations of identified candidate segments. Each combination of identified candidate segments includes one candidate segment for each of the plurality of disk drives. The method further comprises selecting a combination of the one or more combinations of identified candidate segments having the smallest respective segment distance variance; and storing data on the plurality of disk drives according to the selected combination of identified candidate segments.

Abstract: A prefabricated wall panel includes molds for casting reinforced concrete (RC) elements. The prefabricated wall panel includes foam boards, foam glass panels fixed to the foam boards, fabric mesh fixed to the foam glass panels, wire mesh fixed to the fabric mesh, and an exterior wall finish fixed to the wire mesh. Spaces defined by the foam boards and the foam glass panels form the molds for casting RC columns and beams.

Abstract: A prefabricated wall panel includes molds for casting reinforced concrete (RC) elements. The prefabricated wall panel includes foam boards, foam glass panels fixed to the foam boards, fabric mesh fixed to the foam glass panels, wire mesh fixed to the fabric mesh, and an exterior wall finish fixed to the wire mesh. Spaces defined by the foam boards and the foam glass panels form the molds for casting RC columns and beams.

Abstract: A monolithic reinforced concrete (RC) dense column structure includes RC dense columns along a structure perimeter, RC window structures along the structure perimeter, and a RC beam over the dense columns and the window structures around the structure perimeter. Each window structure includes RC window columns, a RC short window column between the window columns, and a RC window beam between the window columns and over the short window column. The structure further includes prefabricated wall panels having molds that casted the dense columns, the window structures, and the beam.

Abstract: A prefabricated wall panel includes molds for casting reinforced concrete (RC) elements. The prefabricated wall panel includes foam boards, foam glass panels fixed to the foam boards, fabric mesh fixed to the foam glass panels, wire mesh fixed to the fabric mesh, and an exterior wall finish fixed to the wire mesh. Spaces defined by the foam boards and the foam glass panels form the molds for casting RC columns and beams.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a sensing arrangement. The arrangement comprises a plurality of layers laminated together. The layers include sequentially a first layer of electrode, a second layer for insulation, a third layer made principally of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and a fourth layer of electrode. The third layer is provided with an array of micro-structures configured in the form of hemispheres, with convex surface of the hemispheric micro-structures oriented towards the insulation layer.

Abstract: A monolithic reinforced concrete (RC) dense column structure includes RC dense columns along a structure perimeter, RC window structures along the structure perimeter, and a RC beam over the dense columns and the window structures around the structure perimeter. Each window structure includes RC window columns, a RC short window column between the window columns, and a RC window beam between the window columns and over the short window column. The structure further includes prefabricated wall panels having molds that casted the dense columns, the window structures, and the beam.

Abstract: An electrode tube holding apparatus is mounted to an electric discharge machine (EDM). The holding apparatus is slidable upward and downward along with the spindle of the EDM and maintained within the midsection of an electrode tube for reducing the deformation of the electrode tube during its movement.

Abstract: A prefabricated wall panel includes molds for casting reinforced concrete (RC) elements. The prefabricated wall panel includes foam boards, foam glass panels fixed to the foam boards, fabric mesh fixed to the foam glass panels, wire mesh fixed to the fabric mesh, and an exterior wall finish fixed to the wire mesh. Spaces defined by the foam boards and the foam glass panels form the molds for casting RC columns and beams.

Abstract: A system for finishing a prefabricated wall panel includes a rack wall, three tracks, and a roller. The rack wall includes columns that can insert into molds in the prefabricated wall panel. The columns are rotatable from a vertical position to a horizontal position. Two lateral tracks each include a channel and bolts along a length of the track. The two lateral tracks are mounted to two ends of the wall rack and spaced apart about the width of the prefabricated wall panel. A top track includes bolts along a length of the track. The top track is located parallel to the wall rack at a distance about the height of the prefabricated wall panel. The roller has wheels that travel in the channels of the two lateral tracks so the roller is can roll over mortar on the surface of the prefabricated wall panel.

Abstract: An electrode tube holding apparatus is mounted to an electric discharge machine (EDM). The holding apparatus is slidable upward and downward along with the spindle of the EDM and maintained within the midsection of an electrode tube for reducing the deformation of the electrode tube during its movement.